Wichita eagle., 1887-05-19
GODS In CAPTIVITY.

GODS In CAPTIVITY.
IDOLS IN NEW YORK FROM CHINA,
AFRICA AND INDIA.
Descriptions Of Some Of tho Prominent
Gods and Goddesses-Horrid Grotesque-
ness-The Chinese Adam.Buddhist Viz.
cin-vishnu's Fopr Incarnations.
There are about 200 heather idols In this
| city, Of which the Presbyterian collection has
elghty-five. These embrace idols from China,
India, Mexico and Africa, and include .
sufficient variety to satisfy the most pro-
nounced heather. A keathen god doesn't
pride himself on his beauty, but relies on his
horrid grotesqueness to send a chill down tho
backbone Of his devotees. One Of the three
Mexican idols is of wood. The sculptor evi-
IDENTIFY used jack knife, and gave the idol
great angularity in all directions, especially
at the knee and elbow joints. The arms meet
IN front without the Intervention of hands.
Tie body is very long and the face utterly
| without expression. Another Mexican speci.
men resembles the old Aztec deities, with
heavy masses of stone carving about the head,
q stern expression in the face, and vigorous
agliness strongly predominant In every feat
ure. The third Of the Mexican gods is Of
wood and resembles coal HEAVIER with pre-
fusion Of black paint on his face, heavy
muscles and garment Of green cloth.
There is one African idol Its countenance
looks like distorted negro face, with lips as
if cut apart by huge plow. The nose is of
triangular shape, and the ridge extends
through the forehead to the hair, which is
composed Of braided cords. The dress IS of
black and white cotton cloth, and her Shout
ders are covered with cape Of red flannel.
The arms extend nearly to the feet and are
very clumsy.
VARIOUS CHINESE GODS.
Fiss Sing is the Chinese god of literature.
He is worshiped by all literary men He il
represented with one foot on the head Of the
sacred fish, and is evidently as much down on
it as an American editor is on fish story.
He holds aloft in one hand a pen, which
In the other hand is . tablet Of papyrus.
Unlike literary men, he is very homely. He
has large ears, and has apparently just re-
ceived some news and Is hurrying to get it in
the last edition. His left foot is raised be-
hind him, as If in the act of running.
Lui kung is the god Of thunder. Thunder
and lightning are supposed to be under his
control, land be is much feared. His upper
lip is constructed ON the principle Of cow
catcher. The nose is chopped off squarely at
the bottom. Each cheek is ornamented with
brazen spot. His ears are large and broad,
and above them are two large flaps like ele-
plants ears and red as beets He wars .
golden robe and looks generally as if he were
running against q high wind. His right
hand is raised, as if to touch off the thunder.
Each foot has three toes, and his knees are
covered with mail He is seated in large
chair.
Prin Ri Wing, the Chinese Adam, was the
first man, according to Chinese theory. He
sprang out Of chaos, and then remodeled the
heavens and the earth. He is worshiped
principally by erecters Of meat sheds In
China. He is seated squarely ON block, and
holds one of the Chinese diagrams" or anu
lets, in his hands, has short skirt about his
loins and mantle on his shoulders. His
forehead is high and streaked with black
paint. His ears are large, face fair and his
hair is raised in heavy lines. Dee-Low-
Koon, baldheaded, benevolent old fellow,
with long tufts Of horsehair whiskers, is one
Of the ":Seen," an imaginary species Of genii,
OF men who have become Immortal and in
habit the hills His business is to teach men
to find the Elixir of Life Tor to make itl, or a
medicine which confers Immortality.
THE BUDDHIST VIRGIN.
Kevan Len is the Buddhist virgin. She is
81 L,. Coz ~ Sba Cfr rod
clay, and is under a canopy with arms rest
ing on balcony. Two brother gods, with
out names, have deep black faces, with
heavy whiskers and mustaches in tufts like
boys in swamp of inky water. One has his
eyes turned downward; the others are dis
tended as if he had just ended a severe fit Of
choking. Above the one are strung couple
of black keys, and the other has ornaments Of
the same kind in white metal. Nearly all the
Chinese gods have nicely curled mustaches.
When they have whiskers they are in the tuft
form, stiff as porcupine quilts.
Feen-hau is the Queen of Heaven, and is
very generally worshiped in China, espe-
cially by seamen. She Is enshrined in every
vessel, and has many temples on land. She
has a gentle expression. There are several
representations of her. In one she is seated
In large chair, completely filling it, and has
a fat piece of wood on her head In another
she is represented in gold clothing, with her
hands wrapped in rich mantle. She has
large ears, with drops, holds a scepter, and
looks like fat China woman. kuIn-yanl, oY
the Goddess of Mercy, is worshiped by all
CLASSES. She is a huge female in dark red,
with large limbs, and is seated with child
resting on one knee. Her face has mild ex-
preston and she is not particularly homely
An image of Buddha, about to be conse-
Grated when bought, was made in Siam, and
cost 62t< cents in silver. The Sacred Bull il
IN marble, and IS kneeling down. 1t is very
heavy. No 101 of the collection is a necklace.
The Hindus think they cannot tell lie when
this is on their neck. Sing Wan San Poosa is
a god Of riches and is solitary character. 1t
Is said he has given the wealth of China to
England. and he is therefore heartily despised.
Ram, incarnation Of Vishnu, is in marble.
He was found in Sutledge river, near Lodiana,
having been thrown there because of broken
arm. When an idol has q limb broken he Is
thrown away. There are fonr representations
of the fncarnations of Eishnu. One Is the
Boar Avatar, which is looking up, supporting
the world on his snout. He has bears head
but mans body. The Fish Avatar has the
BODY of fish with the head Of woman and
four hands He holds scepter in his left
hand and Is trampling on a man. Katch
Avatar has two scepteTs and is four banded.
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